• Loading stock data...
Saturday, May 31, 2025

Gender Equity at Heart of New California NIL Law

  • The state legislature passed an amendment requiring any deals worth $5,000 or more to be reported to their schools, who will then publicize the information.
  • The goal: to shame companies and NIL collectives into offering more equitable deals to women’s sports athletes.
Apr 13, 2023; Fort Worth, TX, USA; UCLA Bruins gymnast Selena Harris performs on beam during the NCAA Women's National Gymnastics Tournament Semifinal at Dickies Arena.
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

The NCAA isn’t the only entity trying to force the terms of name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals to become public.

Last week, the California state legislature passed an amendment to its existing NIL law requiring any deals worth $5,000 or more to be reported to their schools, who will then publicize the information in anonymized data separated by sport and gender. The amendment is currently awaiting Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature. 

The amendment is part of a larger push for NIL transparency. This summer, the NCAA has begun publicizing anonymized data, and is hoping to implement not only a mandatory reporting structure, but also an enforcement arm to block deals seen as “pay for play.” For the NCAA, the goal is to curb the power of NIL collectives.

That’s not the intention of California’s transparency law, however, which is instead focused on gender equity. Sen. Nancy Skinner, who authored the amendment, hopes the reporting requirements will shame companies and NIL collectives into offering more equitable deals to women’s sports athletes.

While data has shown women’s sports athletes have benefited greatly from NIL, they still aren’t earning the same amount of money as their men’s sports counterparts. 

“There’s an old saying, ‘Sunlight is the best disinfectant,’” Skinner said in a statement. “Hopefully, the transparency measures … will prompt collectives and other NIL entities to do the right thing and boost funding for women athletes. And if they don’t, and college-backed NIL efforts are shown to be shortchanging female athletes and worsening gender inequity, then policymakers will have the information necessary to level the playing field.”

Skinner is arguably one of the most important figures in the history of NIL. She sponsored California’s original NIL law, which was the first in the nation to be passed in 2019. The law set off a chain reaction across the country with state legislatures passing similar laws, eventually forcing the NCAA to allow athletes to profit off their NIL for the first time.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

breaking

Pacers-Thunder Is Lowest-Payroll NBA Finals in Years

Neither team is in the luxury tax, despite rosters with multiple All-Stars.
exclusive

Newly American-Owned Italian Hoops Team Hires Ex-Pelicans Exec as GM

Napoli Basketball is hiring the Pelicans’ former chief of staff as GM.

PSG and the City of Paris Can Join European Soccer’s Elite

What a maiden Champions League title would mean for the French club.

Featured Today

How the Champions League Anthem Took on a Life of Its Own

The composer didn’t know he wrote a timeless hit three decades ago.
May 25, 2025

How Rolex Paved the Way for Luxury’s Love Affair With Tennis

“It’s almost impossible to think about tennis without thinking about Rolex.”
Mar 23, 2025; Miami, FL, USA; Alexandra Eala (PHI) reacts after winning a point against Madison Keys (USA)(not pictured) on day six of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium.
May 24, 2025

Alex Eala Is Defying Her Country’s Odds to Make French Open History

The Philippines native has overcome a unique set of financial odds.
May 24, 2025

Indiana Is the Center of the Basketball Universe—Thanks to Both Pro Teams

The Fever and Pacers are thriving at the same time.
Mar 28, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Mississippi Rebels forward Jaemyn Brakefield (4) rebounds over Michigan State Spartans center Carson Cooper (15) and Mississippi Rebels guard Matthew Murrell (11) in the second half of a South Regional semifinal of the 2025 NCAA tournament at State Farm Arena.

SEC Increases Court Storming Fine to $500K—With Caveat

The SEC used to fine schools $500,000 as a third-time offense.
May 29, 2025

Former Seton Hall Baseball Player Sues Over Sexualized Hazing

The student says the coach knew about the hazing and failed to act.
May 29, 2025

Brett Yormark: Big 12 Puts Private Equity and Naming Rights on Pause

Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark is shifting his conference’s strategy.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

In Episode 7 of Portfolio Players, go inside the boardroom with Avenue Capital CEO and former Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry on Giannis’s future, women’s sports, and upstart leagues like TGL and Unrivaled. 
May 29, 2025

Brian Kelly Pushes for SEC–Big Ten Alliance. Would It Widen the Gap?

A deal, if completed, would further strengthen college football’s two titans.
Mar 16, 2025; Fort Worth, TX, USA; UAB Blazers forward Yaxel Lendeborg (3) drives to the basket as Memphis Tigers forward Nicholas Jourdain (2) defends during the first half at Dickies Arena.
May 28, 2025

Prospects Picking College Over NBA Draft at Record Rate

The 2025 NBA draft has its lowest number of early entrants since 2015.
Tennessee pitcher Brayden Krenzel (34) pitches during a NCAA baseball game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Vanderbilt Commodores at Lindsey Nelson Stadium on May 11, 2025.
May 27, 2025

SEC Stranglehold on College Baseball Continues

SEC schools will host eight of the 16 regionals set to start this weekend.
May 22, 2025

Can Golf Emulate the College World Series Model?

Carlsbad, Calif., is hosting the event through 2028.